Action 035: Wounded Soldiers.

I had the opportunity to go bowling with a friend and her kids at the bowling facility on the Naval Hospital grounds. First we went into the on site store, which is called The Exchange on military property (any military property that I know of). Because Walter Reed is closing, the Naval Hospital has become the new location for severely wounded military personnel. We all hear the stories on the news and read in our newspapers about how soldiers are wounded and feel bad. Yesterday, I saw three visibly severely wounded military men. One in a wheelchair, with no legs from the knees down. He was quite helpful when he saw Kerry and I walking around confused, cracking jokes and laughing with us. There was another who kept to himself, walking a bit crooked, clearly still trying to get used to his new metal right leg, from the calf down. And yet another man, who was taped up some, but otherwise, seemed, on the surface, to be uninjured in some severe way. Yet, he looked incredibly unhappy. He was with his father and sister (my guess based on what they looked like physically), and he really just didn't seem to have much to say and didn't smile once. These sights were small, but powerful reminders of what exactly our military does for us. There are those of us who never supported the way and think Bush is the world's biggest dumb dumb, but have always supported what our military does for this country. But this really brings it home just how many come home injured and how little we truly know about these heroes who signed up to protect this country and have literally given life and limb to make sure that protection remains strong. I'm often not particularly proud to be an American, as we are ass backwards in so many ways, but this experience? Well, there's really no place I'd rather be.

Action 034: 12.7 Miles

I have a half marathon coming up on June 2nd. My training has been less than stellar. Yet, yesterday, I busted out 12.7 miles like a boss. I even did it faster than I did last year when training for the full marathon!!! Super stoked. Next up? 14 miles,mso I'm free and clear to run 13.1 and come in at close to last place. I accept it now and realize that this is just the way it shall be.

Action 033: Stick to the Plan.

Well, I'd made this fantastic plan not to drink and to only have three bites of each type of food. Well, I had four ounces of alcohol and a bit more than three bites. BUT I had way less than I normally eat when I'm st this house for parties. So the plan didn't go exactly as planned, but it definitely went better and I was far more aware of what I was doing. And no dessert! Yay!

Action 032: Learn Math.

Again, please excuse no spaces - the iPad apparently hates to add in the spaces. I swear, I know how to use the "enter" button. This being said, I do need to learn something. How to do math specifically. I lost 3.6 this week, not 2.6. Clueless much? Still not thrilled with the .4 gain, but thrilled with the 3+ loss. I'll take it!!!

Action 031: Be Realistic.

I gained a very small amount of weight between yesterday and today, and I mean less than a half a pound. Yet I find myself disappointed because I gained at all. Plus, my abdomen is all bloated from the food eaten. Now, let's discuss why I shouldn't be disappointed. 1. I'm still 2.6 pounds down for the week. 2. I'm still 2.25 inches down for the week. 3. I ate less pizza than I have in years. 4. I drank less wine than I ever have at the friend's house (one single glass). 5. My cheekbones actually show. 6. I'm having some seriously fantastic runs these days. So, let's get real. I had fantastic days from Monday to Thursday. I had a better day than once upon a time and a fun evening. My mother always said she's lost 60 pounds and wouldn't have been able to do it without her one evening off. Most of the good diet plans and the like call for finding ways to still enjoy yourself. Weight Watchers gives you 49 extra points for the week to use however you so choose, specifically knowing that you still need to live and find pleasure in your life (for those of us still struggling in finding joy in healthy food haha). I lost more than two pounds this week. I'm motivated this week and next week, but I wasn't for the first week and a half or two that the white dress was ordered. So I can work til the cows come home, but the fact is that I'm doing hardcore on two weeks versus three and a half. That makes a difference. And the other fact is, I'm learning, finally, how I can live. I know how to cook every night now. I know how to get my dishes done as I go now. I know how to sit down and actually enjoy the healthy benefits of the food I'm putting in my body. I know how good it feels to workout almost everyday. So this week has truly been beneficial. Plus, my nerdy self is interested to see what happens tomorrow after a good day today. Maybe I just need to change my "pleasure" night to Saturday and not Friday. I know I'm not supposed to weigh in daily. That technique is recommended for maintainers, but not losers and I'm assuming the disappointment I've felt is the reason for that. It's simply not healthy. Don't think I'm not going to weigh in daily though. My self-diagnosed, super mild OCD won't allow for me not to weigh in almost daily and write the weight down in 19 million places. If you've ever seen my lists, and how many I make for the most ridiculous purposes, then you know I make no joke.

Action 030: Workout in Peace.

In the building I currently live, there is a gym downstairs.  I generally don't care one way or the other if people are present when I'm working out, as I've finally learned to get past the fact that my butt bounces all over the place when I run (ok, most of the time get past that...).

But last night... oh, it was so lovely to just have the place to myself.  To mouth along to the words of my music and not be given weird looks.  To note my bouncing butt and giggle out loud at myself.  To feel good about the movement of my body and the ability of it to just keep on trucking...

Sometimes, it's just really nice to have peace in the gym.  It's not really ever something you'd get at a big, normal gym (and I do also belong to one of those), so I'm enjoying it while it lasts here.

Action 029: Have a Glass of Wine.

I dined at the same friend's house who asked me to take her kid into the nail salon.  We ate early and had a glass of wine, having an adult discussion about said teenage kid.

It was pizza.  I mean, really.  I don't care how good I'm being, but this pizza?  There was no saying no.  I ate WAY less that I used to, so that's a step in the right direction.  I also considered turning down the wine, but you know... Life still has to be lived and enjoyed.  If one glass of wine in a week were to truly throw off an entire week's worth of work, I'd be a little concerned (we won't discuss the potential effects of the pizza haha).

It was truly an interesting and useful conversation, one that will call on me to help her out some more in figuring out how to get inside this kid's head and help him wake up a little bit.  It was a productive and necessary conversation to have, as he isn't getting any younger and high school beckons.  Having a glass of wine really did help this conversation go down smooth!